Upper Endoscopy

You may believe a little abdominal pain isn’t something you have to mention during a routine checkup. Mild pain in your midsection, after all, may be from last night’s burrito or yesterday’s arduous workout. But if it’s particularly sharp or long-lived, mild pain can escalate into a serious medical condition if left untreated. Cancerous tumors cause similar symptoms as indigestion.

Your upper digestive tract comprises the esophagus, stomach and upper section of your small intestine called the duodenum. Getting an upper endoscopy is the best, most direct way to diagnose any digestive problems in this part of your digestive tract. This procedure makes early detection possible. With early detection comes easier and less invasive treatments, as well as peace of mind.

Digestive Symptoms to Have Checked

You shouldn’t take digestive problems lightly. If you have obesity-related medical diseases like high blood pressure or diabetes, talk with your doctor. Don’t delay if you have symptoms such as:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Difficulty swallowing
• Pain in the upper part of your stomach
• Chest pain
• Vomiting that doesn’t stop
• Uncontrollable coughing
• Blood in your phlegm, urine or stool

Why Get an Upper Endoscopy?

You need an accurate diagnosis to receive proper treatment. Sometimes, the upper digestive tract malfunctions or develops problems. For example, your esophagus may narrow, a condition that requires medical attention.

Using an upper endoscopy procedure, your gastroenterologist pinpoints the exact cause of your ailment and if needed, uses small tools to treat the condition. The most common problems that occur in your digestive tract include:

• GERD and heartburn
• Strictures or narrowing of the esophagus
• Blockages due to polyps or even food, such as a fish bone
• Enlarged esophageal veins
• Inflammation and ulcers
• A hiatal hernia
• Celiac disease
• Crohn’s disease
• Barrett’s esophagus
• Infection of the upper digestive tract
• Tumors that may be cancerous or benign

The Procedure

An endoscope is nothing more than a long, flexible tube, at the end of which are fitted a tiny light and camera.

Your gastroenterology specialist passes the tube down your esophagus into your stomach and duodenum. Air is pumped in to bloat the area to better see. Since the tube is in your esophagus, you continue breathing normally throughout the procedure. With the help of the endoscope, your doctor:

• Investigates the root cause for your digestive problems, such as discovering why you’re bleeding in your digestive tract
• Diagnoses what’s causing your symptoms, which may be due to a foreign object stuck in your throat, for example, that’s causing a blockage
• Treats the condition using specialized tools pushed through the endoscope, a process that allows your doctor to remove tumors and polyps or open narrowed areas
• Collects cells and gastrointestinal fluids for biopsies and to check for ulcers
• Administers additional medical care, such as inserting a feeding tube into your stomach
• Performs minor surgeries using lasers with minimum risk
• Bands abnormal veins in your esophagus to detect precancerous conditions like Barrett’s esophagus

What Comes After?

Most upper endoscopy procedures take between 15 to 30 minutes, unless the treatment you need is more complex. The investigation with the endoscope usually leads to a diagnosis. Your gastroenterologist may provide the diagnosis immediately, especially if the treatment was successful. If a biopsy was performed, the tissue samples collected are sent to a lab for further testing. A diagnosis has to wait until the lab does its work, which can take a while.

Your throat is going to be sore immediately after the procedure, but this discomfort subsides in one or two days. Since the procedure is done on an outpatient basis, you don’t need a stay in the hospital. You’re advised not drive after the procedure, so arrange to have someone there to drive you home.